Lionel was unable to perform at the Fourth of July celebration due to strained vocal chords and CBS had to scramble for a replacement.

“I am extremely disappointed to cancel my performance with the Boston Pops but must follow my doctor’s orders,” Lionel said in a statement (via USA Today). Richie in a statement. He added, “I hope to perform with them in the future.”

“We will miss Lionel and hope he recovers quickly and completely,” Jack Sussman of CBS explained. “Having a superstar like Martina step in at the last minute is a dream come true. She is one of the greatest voices of this or any generation, and she is now my hero.”